Connecticut Opera closes down

Org out of business due to bad economy

The 67-year-old Connecticut Opera has shut down, joining the ranks of arts orgs destabilized or darkened by the economic downturn.

The Hartford-based company has cancelled two spring productions, “La Fille du Regiment” in March and “La Boheme” in May. Final offering for the org, which had an annual budget of about $2 million, was a November staging of “Don Giovanni.”

Board chair John Kreitler told the press that the high cost of filing for bankruptcy has nixed that option for the company, so it will work with creditors to settle its debts. The org has laid off its six staffers, and its 2,000 subscribers won’t be getting their money back for the canceled perfs.

Operas around the country have been hard hit by the turbulent economy. The Metropolitan Opera in Gotham has trimmed four planned revivals from its sked and will cut salaries by 10%, while the Los Angeles Opera is downsizing its schedule, salaries and staff, laying off more than 15 people. Late last year, Baltimore Opera declared bankruptcy.